F.R.O.G.

Over the Christmas holiday my family and I had the “privilege” of attending the local Christmas parade. We sat, with the sun in our eyes and sweat dripping down our faces for over 30 minutes before the parade even began so that we could get a good seat. Then came the parade, which started with all of our elected officials kind of giving their stamp of approval of the parade. Next coming up the road are beauty queens and princesses all being driven in very expensive shiny automobiles. Then came the marching bands playing joyful Christmas music followed by some local churches trying to remind people of the real meaning of Christmas. Also there were some local benevolent type organizations and local businesses. Almost all facets of our community were represented in one manner or another all appearing to give their “stamp of approval” of the parade.
As I sat there watching all the floats go by enjoying some, not so much others, the end was almost there with the only thing left being the loud fire trucks and the Santa. We decided we would leave to avoid the traffic jam. As we walked away I turned around and I saw all the people waving, yelling and happy almost praising because Santa was finally there and I realized the entire parade was designed to usher Santa into our lives for the Christmas season. We (as a town) put out our very best people, cars, music, fire trucks etc. into ushering Santa into our lives. It got me to thinking. What would our town be like if we all ushered Christ into our lives like we usher Santa into our lives.
Of course you can’t usher Christ into your life the same way you would usher Santa. Santa is about materialism. Christ is about spiritualism. You have nothing to display or even to offer God that is worthy of Him “showing up” in your life. Even Paul who was living what seemed to be an almost perfect life for God had nothing to give that was worthy. He had to give up his position, his wealth, and his career.
So how do we usher in Christ? I’ve come up with an acronym, which will hopefully help us remember. We need to hop right out and do this so I’ve named it F.R.O.G..

Faith / Repentance / Obedience / Gratefulness

So for the next four posts I will go into these four areas in an attempt to learn and teach others how to usher Christ into our lives. I will expound on these areas as God leads me. Not to exhaust their meaning but so as to give us knowledge in these areas so that we can develop a proper relationship with Christ in every part of our lives.

Philippians Prayer

We have just completed studying the book of Philippians and are learning to apply the word to our prayer life. Is there a better way to pray than to speak God’s own words? Rest assured that you are praying God’s will if you are praying from the word.
Any way, this is a summary prayer, certainly not all-inclusive, but this is what God has given me to pray and I thought I would throw it out and see what happens. Please read the book and make your own prayer and post it on my comments. I love feedback, even if you think I am in error, (especially if you think I am in error). I want to be accurate in all that I write and I am not perfect or all knowing and always learning more and more.



Philippians chapter 1
Father I thank you for beginning a good work in me and the fellow Christians you have placed in my life and for the assurance that You will finish it according to your will until the day of Your coming. Father, until that time I pray that our love would abound and would be without offence and filled with the fruits of righteousness to the glory of God. Father I pray for boldness and that we would rejoice in our salvation and in our suffering for His sake.



Philippians chapter 2
Father I thank you for your consolation, your comfort, your fellowship and your mercy. I pray that we would be of one mind in Christ and each would esteem others above themselves. I pray that we would be obedient to you even unto death as Christ did for us, and that we would work in accordance with the good work that you have begun in our lives without complaining but as a shining light to the world. I thank you for those you have brought into my life who care for me and are not seeking for themselves and who have been proven of their love and faithfulness to you.




Philippians chapter 3
Father help us to be aware of evil workers. Help us to discern what is evil amongst us that we might address it according to your ways. As we cannot trust our flesh we must rely on your spirit. We recognize that nothing in our flesh is good and we give it up to you that we would obtain righteousness, which is far superior. Not by our own actions or works for our flesh is not worthy, but we forget the things of past and press on to accomplishing the good work that you began in us. We do that by being of one mind looking to You our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.



Philippians chapter 4
Father if any contention or disagreement should arise I pray we stand fast and be of the same mind in the Lord. We will rejoice in you Lord always and come to you in prayer and thanksgiving asking our requests. I thank you that in acting in accordance with your word that you promise a peace that passes understanding which will keep our minds on Christ and what is true and honest and just, pure, and lovely and of good report. Thank you Father that, again, acting in accordance with your word we can endure all things through Christ and you will provide all our spiritual needs for us to have a peace that passes all understanding.

Get Serious

I believe God is calling us to get serious today. Not one of us knows when our time on earth will be done or when Christ will return for us. That includes me, and that includes you. My last breath could be this one, or this one. I’m not saying this to scare you into making a decision you don’t really want to make. But if my saying this scares you then you should really do some, well I wouldn’t say soul searching, but you should do some Christ searching.

If your relationship with Christ is just a safety rope to get into heaven and stay out of Hell then you probably don’t have enough of a relationship to even make it into heaven. You’re only fooling yourself for God will not be mocked.

I know that all sounded harsh but it is the truth and we all need to be reminded and encouraged from time to time.

In the first chapter of Luke we have the record of the conception of John the Baptist and also of Jesus. In the second chapter we see Jesus as a child growing up. But, I would like us to focus on John for now. The reason for John’s existence is stated very plainly in verses 76 and 77 of chapter 1.

Luk 1:76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
Luk 1:77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,

I am pointing this out to validate John and Johns teaching for you. Verse 77 clearly points out that if one is interested in salvation and forgiveness then they need to focus on the teachings of this man. That was his “commission” if you will.

Luk 3:3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

So John is doing his thing, he is preaching the message of salvation to the people and then the crowds begin to show up.

Luk 3:7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee
Luk 3:8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

Why was John so harsh on this crowd of people in calling them a brood of vipers? In the next few verses we are going to find out whom this crowd of people were and that should shed some light for us.

Luk 3:9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
Luk 3:10 And the crowds asked him, "What then shall we do?"
Luk 3:11 And he answered them, "Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise."
Luk 3:12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"
Luk 3:13 And he said to them, "Collect no more than you are authorized to do."
Luk 3:14 Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages."
Luk 3:15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,
Luk 3:16 John answered them all, saying, "I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Luk 3:17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
Luk 3:18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.

So we see that the crowd was probably mostly made up of Pharisees, Publicans, and soldiers, the wealthier healthier, religious people.

John was wise to them though and made it clear to warn them that if they did not bear fruit then they would be chopped from the roots. If they were just there, as I said earlier, to have a safety net in which to get into heaven then they may end up being the chaff that will burn with an unquenchable fire.

I am reminded of my children when they were younger and it was time for bed. They used to go through the ritual of "I have to go potty", "I'm hungry", "and I’m thirsty". Some how all this seems to coincidentally happen when it is time for bed. But its not a drink they want, there is no hunger, they’ve already been potty twice. They are trying to use a “good” thing and manipulate it for what they think they want. Having a drink of water is not a bad thing. But using thirst as a justification to stay up longer is.

The crowd that John called a brood of vipers in Luke is the same. They were not thirsty for the water of repentance they were just interested in an "easy" heavenly guarantee. They quickly found out from John that there was more to it then a ritualistic dunking or sprinkling or repeating a few bible verses. It required action. It required fruit.

There are a lot of people saying that they are thirsty in the world today. But there are not many people willing to drink the water of repentance. They want something sweeter with some sugar or honey in it. Religion offers all kinds of different waters to you. But there is only one type of water that offers salvation in Christ and that is the water of repentance. Don’t misunderstand me; I am not saying if your not baptized you can’t go to heaven. What I am saying is that if you don’t repent there is not forgiveness and if there is no forgiveness then there is no salvation.

There are no traditions or rituals that will give you salvation from Hell. Decide today to get serious about Christ. While you have the opportunity. Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.

You Can Run But You Can't Hide

Why do we spend so much time trying to hide from a God that knows all and sees all?
We go about our lives all trying to be like chameleons blending in. Afraid to be a contrast or a light in a dark world. Yes, even us Christians. Even Gods chosen. Look at the book of Exodus.
Exo 20:18 Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off
Exo 20:19 and said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die."
Exo 20:20 Moses said to the people, "Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin."
Exo 20:21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.
They were afraid of God because they were aware of their lack of righteousness before God. They were afraid of failing the "test".
So, we do today. It is easier to hide in the bushes than to "fess up". Or so we think.

Pro 28:13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

Num 32:23 But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.

It does no good to hide from God. Confess and we shall have mercy. I don't know about you but I need mercy!

MERCY DROPS ROUND US ARE FALLING,
BUT FOR THE SHOWERS WE PLEAD!!

Enlightened

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